herd 1 of 2

noun

ˈhərd How to pronounce herd (audio)
Definition of herdnext
1
as in flock
a group of domestic animals assembled or herded together the great herds of cattle that cowboys once drove across the plains

Synonyms & Similar Words

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2
as in populace
the body of the community as contrasted with the elite aspire to achieve something, to distinguish yourself from the herd

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in throng
a great number of persons or things massed together gearing up for the herd of holiday shoppers at the mall on the day after Thanksgiving

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herd

2 of 2

verb

as in to drive
to urge, push, or force onward the guards briskly herded us through the museum in order to prevent overcrowding

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Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of herd
Noun
The wars caused massive destruction of religious and civic buildings, mills and mines, housing, crops, herds and transport infrastructure, damaging prosperity and forcing some people to move or starve. — Literary Hub, 28 Sep. 2026 Long winters can also devastate deer herds by pushing a deer’s fat stores to its limits, as landowners and managers saw after the winter of 2022 to 2023. — Katie Hill, Outdoor Life, 24 Sep. 2026
Verb
The agent begins herding them toward the other side of the street. — Emily Witt, New Yorker, 31 Aug. 2026 Politicians don’t control the conversation, or the attention economy, and neither do the traditional outlets that used to herd this stuff. — David Weigel, semafor.com, 28 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for herd
Recent Examples of Synonyms for herd
  1. flock
  2. populace
  3. throng
  4. drive
  5. crowd
  6. swarm
  7. public
  8. horde
Noun
  • For all of this and more, multi-generational families, married couples celebrating milestone anniversaries, and celebrities looking for privacy and discretion flock here.
    — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 6 Oct. 2026
  • The groups have watched pigeon flocks flee from hawks and have seen pigeons feeding crop milk, a substance adult pigeons produce near their throat, to their babies.
    — KYLE MELNICK THE WASHINGTON POST, Arkansas Online, 4 Oct. 2026
Definition of flock
Noun
  • The decision was ultimately reversed by a New York Supreme Court judge, on the grounds that Warren violated the populace’s religious liberties.
    — Clare Whitton, The Conversation, 17 Sep. 2026
  • The entire populace is beholden to Billy’s stepmom, Zoe Macon (Poorna Jagannathan), their resident Manhunter in hiding.
    — Brian Davids, HollywoodReporter, 15 Sep. 2026
Definition of populace
Noun
  • Set the scene Deep in verdant Bogawantalawa Valley, the serenity here is a welcome break from the throng of the south coast beaches.
    — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 6 Oct. 2026
  • Word spread quickly, and soon a throng of smartphone-wielding citizens had surrounded the immigration enforcement van, which couldn’t move because one enterprising, early-arriving activist had slid underneath it.
    — Robert Abele, Los Angeles Times, 2 Oct. 2026
Definition of throng
Verb
  • The reason for that is the unquenching market need for solid factual projects that can both be popular on linear channels and drive older viewers to streaming services.
    — Max Goldbart, Deadline, 7 Oct. 2026
  • The urgency of their push comes as major European companies undergo huge job losses — Volkswagen plans to cut 100,000 workers — which experts have said could drive political upheaval.
    — Morgan Chalfant, semafor.com, 7 Oct. 2026
Definition of drive
Noun
  • The hotel draws a significant business and convention crowd, as well as fans in town for a big game.
    — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 7 Oct. 2026
  • The series follows the Canadian team’s historic run to the World Cup final, where they were ultimately toppled by host country England, going down 33-13 in front of a sellout crowd of 82,000 at Twickenham Stadium in South West London.
    — Max Goldbart, Deadline, 7 Oct. 2026
Definition of crowd
Noun
  • The bombers were moved abruptly in response to multiple streams of intelligence warnings, including a threat that the aircraft could be hit in a swarm drone attack similar to one Ukraine launched against Russia in June 2025.
    — Steve Hendrix, Arkansas Online, 6 Oct. 2026
  • My interview with Altman had been arranged weeks earlier, just as the first revelations emerged about swarms of rogue AI agents conspiring to hack websites.
    — Alyson Shontell, Fortune, 5 Oct. 2026
Definition of swarm
Noun
  • Beijing envisions a comprehensive AI education system that spans all levels of schooling and extends to the broader public.
    — Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 3 Oct. 2026
  • That commitment to authenticity began with the brand’s core foundation before reaching the broader public.
    — Chase Jordan October 3, Charlotte Observer, 3 Oct. 2026
Definition of public
Noun
  • The twentieth century industrialized advisory through hordes of ambitious young graduates and an apprenticeship model that allowed advice to be sold by those with much less viabexperience.
    — Albert Mikkelsen, Forbes.com, 29 Sep. 2026
  • Outside of Hotel Chelsea, hordes of fans greeted this season’s cast, who have made the long-running series a cult favorite.
    — Lauren Sanchez, Vogue, 24 Sep. 2026
Definition of horde

Phrases Containing herd

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herculean
herd
herded
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Cite this Entry

“Herd.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/herd. Accessed 9 Oct. 2026.

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More from Merriam-Webster on herd

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about herd

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